The self-described "common-sense Democrat" (pictured above) has served as a U.S. senator since Jan. 3, 2023. In that nearly four years, he has frequently sided with Republicans on issues like immigration enforcement, confirming several of President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, opposing restrictions on U.S. military action in Iran, supporting unconditional aid to Israel, and backing GOP bills to end the 2025 government shutdown.
But his support for Israel has drawn the ire of a Gaza-born radical Democratic Socialist (DSA) named Ahmed Moor, who plans to mount a primary challenge against Fetterman in 2028.
This does not surprise Diane Gramley, president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania.
"He's still just as pro-abortion, pro-LGBTQ as he was, but his stand with Israel has been what has turned the Democrat Party against him," she observes. "He has definitely riled up a lot of Democrats against him because they definitely have become very antisemitic, and they oppose anyone who has the courage to stand up with Israel."
The federal government does not track elected officials by religion, and many officeholders do not publicly disclose their religious affiliation. However, the Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) Directory of Elected Muslim Officials, updated in August, identifies at least 255 Muslim elected officials in the U.S., with additional newly elected officials coming into office.
On Nov. 5, CAIR reported at least 97 confirmed Muslim electoral victories nationwide, including six confirmed U.S. House victories, four of which were reelected incumbents, and one U.S. Senate seat — Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.
Gramley believes the latter is encouraging radicals like Moor to run for office.
"He's just as radical as El-Sayed, who won easily in Michigan," she notes. "Of course, they do have a much larger Muslim population there than we do in Pennsylvania, but I think that it's just going to open the door for more radicals, more Muslims, and more members of the DSA to run for office."
In addition to his affiliation with the DSA and his progressive policy platform, Moor's critics take issue with his calls to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), cut off U.S. military aid to Israel, and enact sweeping government programs like Medicare for all and wealth taxes on billionaires. He also supports imposing sanctions aimed at helping Palestinians.
Conservatives characterize these proposals as extreme overreach and threats to national security, but Moor and his supporters frame them as populist efforts to lower living costs for working families and end costly foreign wars.
Gramley expects other, less radical Democrats will also challenge Fetterman.
